Phillies Nuggets with Tim Kelly: Will Austin Hays Return in 2025?
When the Philadelphia Phillies acquired Austin Hays from the Baltimore Orioles in late July, the hope was that he could not only start in left field against left-handed pitchers but potentially claim the job full-time. However, injuries limited Hays’ impact in 2024, as Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski acknowledged in his year-end press conference.
“We were happy with the trades we made at the time,” Dombrowski said. “Sometimes moves work out great, and other times they don’t go as planned. Unfortunately, Austin Hays got hurt almost immediately and then dealt with a kidney infection. We never really saw him at his best.”
Hays was placed on the injured list in August with a hamstring strain and later sidelined again due to a kidney infection. While he returned briefly in late September, he missed the final two regular-season games with back soreness. In total, Hays hit .256 with two home runs and six RBIs in 78 at-bats, with limited postseason action. Manager Rob Thomson benched him in favor of Weston Wilson during Game 4 of the NLDS.
Austin Hays
Looking ahead, the Phillies must decide whether to tender a contract to Hays, who has one year of arbitration eligibility remaining. He’s projected to earn $6.4 million, but after a down season, that may be too high. The team could non-tender him, making him a free agent, or try to negotiate a lower deal.
The decision will depend on how much both sides want to continue the relationship. Hays could bounce back in 2025 if healthy, but it’s unclear if the Phillies will take that risk or if Hays is willing to accept less money. After a disappointing playoff exit, it’s possible Game 3 of the NLDS was Hays’ final appearance in a Phillies uniform.
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